Which navigator is credited with discovering the "New World" in 1492?

The navigator credited with discovering the "New World" in 1492 is Christopher Columbus. He is known for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that ultimately led to the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. In his quest to find a western route to Asia, Columbus made four significant trips, the most notable being his first voyage in which he reached the islands of the Bahamas and established European contact with the Caribbean.

This expedition was monumental because it opened the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas, thus changing the course of history. While other explorers like Amerigo Vespucci and John Cabot contributed to the exploration of the New World, they did so at a later time or under different circumstances. Vespucci, for instance, is known for his voyages that helped to realize that the lands discovered were part of a separate continent, and John Cabot was associated with early exploration of North America, but Columbus's journey in 1492 is the pivotal moment that marked the beginning of sustained European interaction with the Americas.